A Smile from India

Scarcely noticed beyond the meeting hall in Rome where the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization met in special session was a quiet exercise in diplomacy that won for .the U.S. some new and valued Asian friends.

Since the U.S. had held the director-generalship for nine years, U.S. delegates to the FAO meeting were at first reluctant to propose an American successor to Dr. Philip Cardon, who resigned last March--in part because of criticism from member governments. But in the absence of any other widely supported candidate, the U.S. proposed Dr. John H. Davis, professor at Harvard's School of Business Ad ministration and for a year an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower. Many expected Davis to win easily, but on the first ballot he got only 33 (out of 74) votes, was still short of a majority on the second ballot. While delegates of small countries muttered about attempted U.S. domination of FAO. Davis consulted with the U.S. delegation.

He could wait out a victory. Davis pointed out, but the victory might well turn out to be no victory at all. Next day, in a brief and dignified statement, he withdrew from the race. "My interpretation of the ballots," he said, "does not show the very substantial majority which my government believes should be given to the next director-general of the organization."

His audience was astounded. Said the representative of one Asian country: "I simply don't believe it." Then, as the U.S. wisely abstained from voting. India's Binay R. Sen, 58, present Ambassador to Japan, was elected with 42 votes. After his election, FAO Chief Sen spoke the kindest words about the U.S. that have fallen from Indian lips in a long time. Said he: "The U.S. withdrawal when vic tory was in sight took great courage and self-denial . . We believe the U.S. has taken note of the growing desire on the part of less developed areas to take over the direction of the FAO for a while. Only a great nation with a great heart can have that kind of understanding."

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